Anti-wrinkle face creams can be broken down into three main types: those that protect against damage, those that strive to undo damage, and those that hide damage. Some creams only provide one of these functions, while others try to accomplish all three. Your needs will be dependent upon your age and to what extent your skin has been damaged.

Types of Anti-Wrinkle Creams

The most effective treatment for protecting against wrinkling is the daily use of an SPF. I can't overemphasize how important the daily use of an SPF is. It is the single most effective weapon against environmental aging you can have in your arsenal. Look for daily moisturizers which contain a minimum of SPF 15 and that don't need to be reapplied throughout the day.

To undo damage and minimize the appearance of wrinkling, look for anti-wrinkle face creams with a glycolic acid (AHA) concentration between eight and 15 percent. Other effective ingredients to look for include vitamin C in concentrations of 10 percent or higher, plus antioxidants like vitamin E, green tea and grape seed extract, and coenzyme Q10. Be careful when opting to use anti-wrinkle creams containing high amounts of vitamin A derivatives including Retinol, Retin-A/Renova, etc. High concentrations of vitamin A can leave the skin extremely vulnerable to sun damage. When dealing with high concentrations of vitamin A, always talk to your dermatologist about the best ways to protect yourself.

To hide damage, look for firming creams (also known as "skin tighteners") and muscle relaxing creams. Firming creams work via ingredients that shrink blood vessels and provide a temporarily tighter appearance to the skin. Muscle relaxing creams work by delivering special chemical relaxants to facial muscles, causing them to flatten out and look younger in appearance. With regard to the latter, it should be noted that clever makeup application, and decent lighting, can often do as much to trick the eye as do these skin care items. Nonetheless, relaxing creams are becoming very popular, and are reportedly used quite often by those in the public eye.